IT CAN HAPPEN HERE

Chronicle (Levin), 15 March 1949, Page 8

IT CAN HAPPEN HERE

' Fress Association)

Socialism Pates Way For Totalitarianism

(Per

CHRISTCHURCH, March 14. "There is a danger in the idea that the New Zealand" brand of socialism is liot as bad as that of other eountries and that what has hap.pened there cannot happen here," said Mr. S. -G. Holland, Leader of the Opposition, at a farewell function in the National Club this evening before his departure from "Christchurch' tomorrow for Australia. "Don't say these things cannot happen here," he said. "Look at the ease of Allan Williams-. At a nonpolitieal meeting at whieh 1 spoke he was chairman of the day. Each member takes the ehair. in rotation and it was Mr. Williams' turn. For daring to associate himself with some words of mine, his penalty was expulsion from the branch of the Labour Party of whieh he is a member. No trial! Not even a request for an explanation f No ehanee of defending himself ! Just a newspaper announcement and a note pushed into his letter box while he was aw'ay from home by the secret representative of his branch ! That is the tec'hnique. That is the Communist way and that is the Socialist way.

"All brands of socialism and all brands of eommunism have the same objeetive," said Mr. Holland,, "that is, the overthrow of the privately operated enterprise system and its replacement by a .totalitarian form— sometimes called socialism but sometimes known as eommunism. In eleven Enropean eountries eommunism has established totalitarian aiithority and all opposition has been liquidated. In- each and every one of these eountries Socialists and : socialism wittingly or unwittingTy paved and prepared the way. iDon't say these things cannot happen here."